Dodgers relief pitcher Adam Liberatore walks off the mound after being pulled form the game by Manager Dave Roberts (30) after giving up a two-run go-ahead triple during the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley tries to throw out Arizona Diamondbacks Daniel Descalso at second on a base hit by Nick Ahmed during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. Both runners were safe. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Matt Koch throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is hit by a pitch during the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nick Ahmed forces out Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor (3) as he turns a double play on Joc Pederson during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks Nick Ahmed (13) throws to first against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers Joc Pederson hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ A.J. Pollock (11) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy watches during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ A.J. Pollock (11) high fives manager Torey Lovullo (17) after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte falls after a swinging strike against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Matt Koch (55) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run as Arizona Diamondbacks’ Deven Marrero (10) looks down during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two-run home run with Matt Kemp, left, and Yasmani Grandal (9) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives Kyle Farmer #17 after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Owings (16) hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against Alex Avila #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy runs out an RBI sacrifice ground out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley (26) scores on a sacrifice by Max Muncy during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Alex Avila stands near the plate. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks Christian Walker (53) crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal waits during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley tries to throw out Arizona Diamondbacks Daniel Descalso (3) at second on a base hit by Nick Ahmed during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley tries to throw out Arizona Diamondbacks Daniel Descalso at second on a base hit by Nick Ahmed during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. Both runners were safe. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy (36) high-fives Nick Ahmed (13) after scoring on a two-run triple by Daniel Descalso during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger reacts after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Adam Liberatore adjusts his cap after giving up a two-run triple to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Relief pitcher Adam Liberatore #36 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is removed by manager Dave Roberts #30 during the seventh inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Dodgers relief pitcher Adam Liberatore walks off the mound after being pulled form the game by Manager Dave Roberts (30) after giving up a two-run go-ahead triple during the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Daniel Descalso follows through on a two RBI triple against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high fives Deven Marrero #10 after scoring against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high fives Nick Ahmed #13 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Infeidler Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches a line-drive out during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — A fierce desert wind picked up in the middle innings Tuesday night, splaying the napkins and the popcorn of 18,940 patrons across Chase Field. The Diamondbacks could have thrown in a tumbleweed for effect.

The only ghosts in this section of downtown are those of the 2017 Dodgers. On paper, not long ago, the 2018 Dodgers sure looked like the same team that went to the World Series last autumn. With each passing day, however, they continue to fritter away their chances of catching the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

The latest game was theirs to win until it vanished in a seventh-inning heartbeat. Arizona scored twice against the Dodgers’ bullpen to erase a one-run deficit and win 4-3.

It all happened quickly. Left-hander Adam Liberatore, the first man up in relief of Clayton Kershaw, allowed singles to a pair of right-handed batters, Deven Marrero and John Ryan Murphy. The next batter, left-hander Daniel Descalso, clobbered a triple into the right-field corner, clearing the bases.

With that Liberatore (0-1), who had not allowed a run in five games to begin the season, was done.

The Dodgers’ fourth straight loss left them at 12-17, nine games behind the streaking Diamondbacks (20-8) in the National League West. The bullpen has become a familiar culprit.

Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used five relievers in a scheduled “bullpen game.” Switching out left-handed Edward Paredes for right-hander Brock Stewart overnight couldn’t reset the remaining relievers, even after Kershaw gave them six capable innings in a no-decision. The Dodgers have won only two of Kershaw’s seven starts in 2018.

Tuesday’s loss was not Kershaw’s fault. He allowed two runs in six innings, on solo home runs by A.J. Pollock and Christian Walker, and left with a 3-2 lead. Roberts said he planned to use right-hander J.T. Chargois against the middle of the Diamondbacks’ order in the eighth inning, then Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

Getting through the seventh inning against Arizona’s number-8, number-9 and number-1 hitters proved too tall a challenge. Roberts said right-handers Ross Stripling, Josh Fields and Daniel Hudson were all unavailable. Left-hander Tony Cingrani had thrown 11 pitches the night before, and right-hander Pedro Baez was struggling. The manager landed on Liberatore less by choice and more by process of elimination.

“When he’s good and he’s right, the ball’s down. The split’s down, the slider’s down,” Roberts said of Liberatore. “Tonight, everything was at the belt.”

After Chargois and Jansen got the final six outs, the Dodgers had six outs of their own to tie the score. They even put a runner in scoring position with two outs in the ninth inning but Joc Pederson struck out looking on a full-count fastball against Brad Boxberger to end the game.

Cody Bellinger’s two-run home run in the third inning was the Dodgers’ final hit of the game.

The Diamondbacks have won seven of the eight head-to-head meetings with the Dodgers this season. Against every other team, the Dodgers are playing better than .500 baseball. Of course, that’s little consolation under the circumstances. The Dodgers play the Diamondbacks twice more this week, then twice at home next week.

Arizona picked up where it left off Monday in the second inning when Pollock hit a home run, his fourth solo homer in a stretch of six plate appearances.

The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the third. Yasmani Grandal drew a two-out walk. Right-hander Matt Koch fell behind Bellinger 3-and-1, then piped a 92-mph fastball that Bellinger did not miss. The two-run home run landed an estimated 435 feet from home plate, just inside the right-field pole.

It was the Dodgers’ first lead since the fourth inning Saturday in San Francisco.

The Diamondbacks handed the Dodgers their next run. Chase Utley stroked a fly ball to left field that caromed off Daniel Descalso’s glove for a two-base error. Utley went to third base on a groundout by Alex Verdugo, then scored on a groundout by Max Muncy. The unearned run gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Diamondbacks nearly chased Kershaw with a string of scorched baseballs. With one out, Walker hit a solo home run that landed in the restaurant seating overhanging the left field bleachers, an estimated 479 feet from home plate. Back-to-back singles by Descalso and Nick Ahmed brought up the dangerous middle of the Diamondbacks’ lineup.

Paul Goldschmidt skied a fly ball to left field but got under it enough for Verdugo to make an easy catch. Pollock was up next, giving baseball’s hottest hitter a chance to bury the Dodgers in their tracks. On the fifth pitch he saw, Pollock hit a ground ball to shortstop Chris Taylor. The inning ended on a routine forceout, sparing Kershaw nothing worse than a no-decision.

Kershaw got through six innings on 101 pitches, the last of which was a sweeping curveball to freeze Alex Avila for strike three. He struck out six batters in all and walked one. The solo home runs by Pollock and Walker were the sixth and seventh he’s allowed in seven starts. Only three National League pitchers have allowed more.

In spite of those home runs, Kershaw has been close enough to an ace that his 1-4 record looks like a misprint next to his 2.86 earned-run average. Like Stripling the night before, Kershaw expressed hope for the impossible: a break from playing the Diamondbacks.

“It’s not easy to get through seven or eight innings against them,” he said.

Arizona’s lineup, Kershaw said, reminded him of another dangerous one he’d seen recently: the 2017 Dodgers.